Adams taking nothing for granted in second full season

ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 18: Matt Adams #53 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts as home plate umpire Greg Gibson calls Adams safe in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Six of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium on October 18, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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(BaseballStL) - Despite the fact Matt Adams is penciled in as the Cardinals starting first baseman this upcoming season - due largely to Carlos Beltran's departure and Allen Craig's relocation to right field - the 6'3" slugger is taking nothing for granted.

"It's a huge opportunity but you never know what can happen," Adams said. "You just have to go with it, run with it and hope that things work out. But I have to go down there and prepare to fight for a job."

To prepare for that fight Adams is getting in even better shape than last year. He says he's lost 6-7 pounds of body fat

"Just getting after it," Adams said. "We don't have much time. I just wanted to work hard and lose some more weight."

Last year the Slippery Rock University alum burst onto the MLB scene with a .284 average and 17 home runs in nearly 300 at-bats. Adams hopes to build off that in 2014.

"I think the experience was huge," Adams said. "Especially getting into the playoffs and playing in that type of atmosphere. This spring training is big. It's going to be a fight and a lot of competition down there."